First Home Alliance First-Time Homebuyers Program
The First Home Alliance First-Time Homebuyers Program is FREE to the public and includes both homebuyer education and confidential one-on-one counseling by a HUD-Certified Homeownership Advisor. Please click the link below to find the next class.
The First Home Alliance Homebuyer Education helps first-time homebuyers wade through all this information, and become better prepared to make a purchase. Even if you consider yourself a savvy homebuyer already, these classes can be well worth your time since they’re often required to qualify for down-payment assistance, lower mortgage rates and other benefits.
If you’re thinking about buying a house for the first time, or reentering the housing market after some past financial difficulties, there are classes available to help guide you through the process.
First Home Alliance is a nonprofit agency. Our course and its content is appropved by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Our organizations has also adopted the National Industry Standards for Homeownership Education and Counseling.
These classes are designed to walk you through the entire homebuying process so you know exactly what to expect and how to manage the costs. Some topics you can expect to learn about include:
- Pros and cons of owning a home
- Knowing when you’re ready to buy
- Planning for maintenance and other costs
- How to apply for a mortgage and choose a lender
- Basic personal finance topics like budgeting and credit
Classes are offered in a variety of formats, including in-person classes, and online courses.
When evaluating classes and prices, be sure that you choose a HUD-certified course. Some of the other free options don’t meet the standards required by certain assistance programs. Always double-check that you’re enrolling in a HUD-approved course.
For additional guidance, First Home Alliance offer confidential one-on-one counseling by a HUD Certified Homeownership Advisor. With this service, participants receive one-on-one guidance and usually work on a custom, detailed action plan for homeownership. Ongoing counseling is recommended, and sometimes required for prospective homeowners who face certain challenges, such as a lack of savings or lower income.